Chapter 1

The Sunday afternoon heat in Andheri was suffocating, wrapping around everything like a heavy, wet blanket while the distant hum of traffic echoed through the street. Inside the apartment, the silence was heavy. Anjali lay on the sofa, one arm draped over her eyes, her body feeling like lead. She let out a long, weary sigh, shifting slightly. The thin cotton of her nightie clung to her skin, accentuating the curve of her waist and the fullness of her hips.

Raj sat on the floor, scrolling through his phone, but his eyes kept drifting to her. He saw the tension in her shoulders, the way she rubbed her thigh. He knew she was restless, not just physically, but in that way that made him uneasy.

“Body ache?” Raj asked, his voice low, hesitant.

Anjali didn’t lift her arm. “Everywhere. Shoulders, legs ... feels like my skin is too tight for my body.”

Raj hesitated. He was stingy, yes, but he was also passive, eager to please in small, cheap ways to avoid the bigger conflicts. He remembered seeing a small board on the street corner near the market. “The Lotus Spa – New Opening. Men & Women.”

“There’s a new place,” Raj said, sitting up. “The Lotus Spa. Just opened. Maybe ... a massage?”

Anjali lifted her head. She looked at him, her eyes half-lidded, tired. “A massage? Here? In Andheri?”

“It’s clean,” Raj lied. “I called. They have slots.”

Anjali sat up, stretching her arms above her head. The movement pulled her nightie tight across her large breasts and the curve of her waist. “Okay. If it helps.”

The Lotus Spa was located in a quiet lane off the main road, tucked behind a row of old bungalows. The interior was dimly lit, smelling of eucalyptus and sandalwood. It was quieter than Anjali expected. The air conditioning was humming softly, a stark contrast to the humid heat outside.

As they entered, a receptionist—a young woman with bright eyes and a warm smile—greeted them. She wore a crisp white uniform and gestured toward a plush seating area.

“Welcome to The Lotus,” the receptionist said. “Madam, please make yourself comfortable on the sofa while your husband checks our packages.”